CROSS CREEK, Fla. (WCJB) -Residents of North Central Florida started their New Year by participating in First Day Hikes, with one farm providing a history lesson alongside the traditional outdoor activity.
First Day Hikes took place across the country on Thursday, but visitors to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ Historic Farmyard in Cross Creek also learned about the nation’s history.
In celebration of 250 years of American independence, staff taught hikers about Florida’s role in World War II and how the farm played an integral part.
After propaganda popularized the state’s citrus, growers like Rawlings found increased demand as most crops went directly to the war effort.
“A gentleman told us about orange production. They were canning the juice then cause during the war it was being canned. It doesn’t taste as good but, just something they had to do during the war effort is to can the orange juice,” said John Netcher from Jacksonville.
Hikers were served concentrated orange juice from the World War II era and recipes from Rawlings’ own cookbook.
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Copyright 2026 WCJB. All rights reserved.